Selective inhibition of in vitro cell growth by the anti-tumour drug Ukrain.

Hohenwarter O, Strutzenberger K, Katinger H, Liepins A, Nowicky JW.

Institute of Applied Microbiology, University of Agriculture, Vienna, Austria.

The inhibitory effect of Ukrain on malignant cells and on normal cells, in vitro,
has been compared. To obtain a 50% inhibition of cell growth, a tenfold
concentration had to be used with normal endothelial cells compared to a human
osteosarcoma cell line. Hybrids of the two cell types showed nearly the same
sensitivity as normal cells. A laser scanning microscope showed a high uptake of
Ukrain in malignant cells, while the content in normal cells under the same
experimental conditions was substantially lower.